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Best Ways to Clean Tile and Grout

Tile flooring is a popular option in homes, chosen for both its durability and affordability. It's also incredibly versatile, which is why you see tile flooring in living areas, foyers, kitchens, even on countertops, and in bathrooms.

When it comes to cleaning tile surfaces, the internet provides countless methods. A simple google search of this blog title yields 1,610,000 results–make that 1,610,001 since this post is now live. Today we’re going to explore several options for how you can make your tile surfaces sparkle.

Under the Counter Concoctions

The most popular DIY tile and grout cleaning recommendations involve using household items that you might keep under the kitchen counter. These remedies claim you can effectively clean your hard surfaces without having to leave the house. Score!

These items include:

White vinegar

Baking Soda

Hydrogen Peroxide

Lemons

Dish Soap

It’s true, using these items can make a dent in the dirt and grime in your tile and grout. But the only thing “long term” about these fixes is the amount of time you’ll spend scrubbing your surfaces. Imagine trying to conquer nearly 600 square feet of living room space and an entire weekend of work flashes before your eyes.

Harsh Chemicals

Honestly, tile and grout cleaning sneaks up on most homeowners. Most people regularly clean their tile surfaces and don’t give it a second thought.

And then it happens. You realize that the grout in your bathroom used to be white. The initial shock is just as terrifying as it is embarrassing. In this situation, it’s all too tempting to reach for the harsh chemicals like bleach and ammonia. It’s normal to consider dousing the entire area with chemicals. Just make sure you resist the urge to light a match and move on with your life.

The world wide web also has many sites that recommend using bleach and ammonia to clean tile and grout. These methods can restore the color of your grout, but sometimes they do more damage than good. Bleach and other harsh cleaners can damage the surface of your tiles. It can also make your grout porous and more susceptible to dirt and mildew build-up.

Elbow Grease

Each of the recommendations above require a significant amount of manual labor. Think hours of scrubbing your floor on your hands and knees.

We also came across tips that didn’t include harsh chemicals or smelly vinegar, just good old fashioned elbow grease. These experts recommend going at your tile and grout with metal brushes, steel wool and all-natural scouring powders made up of minerals. These products can also cause significant damage to your tile surfaces.

Call Carpet Tech

There was one more solution we discovered while searching the web and that’s Carpet Tech! Our experienced service technicians use a self-contained pressure washing system and safe cleaning products to restore your tile surfaces. The best part? This solution requires zero elbow grease or manual labor from you. It’s also much faster than the DIY methods. Consider your weekend saved!